Before the much-anticipated battle between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford can materialize, there is a mandatory date that could change everything. The Mexican must face Cuban William Scull on May 3 in Riyadh, a rival without the fame of the great luminaries, but with a hunger for glory and the potential to completely alter the international boxing agenda. What seemed like a simple mandatory defense has turned into a true test of focus and mental endurance for Canelo.
At 34 years old, weighing 76.1 kg and with a record of 62 wins, two losses and two draws (39 by knockout), Alvarez is not only defending his belts, he is protecting his legacy. On the other side, an undefeated William Scull, 32 years old with 23 wins (9 by KO), arrives with a clear physical advantage: 1.80 m tall compared to the Mexican’s 1.73 m. Both are at the super middleweight limit, but the challenge for the Cuban goes far beyond the physical: he must prove that he is up to the biggest moment of his career.
Canelo’s profile: the champion who cannot afford to fail
Canelo’s career has been marked by constant evolution. A four-division champion, he has faced and defeated the best of modern boxing. Although he no longer possesses the rhythm of yesteryear or the power of his best years (he has not scored a knockout since 2021), his intelligence in the ring, time management and versatility keep him as the most relevant name at 168 pounds. His trainer, Eddy Reynoso, has been key to extending his dominance beyond the norm.
Alvarez dominates the WBC, WBA, WBO and super middleweight titles. However, he lost the IBF title after refusing to face Scull at the time, prioritizing more lucrative fights. Now, forced by the structure of boxing, he must face the challenger who displaced him from one of his thrones. With a reach of 179 cm and plenty of experience, Canelo cannot afford a slip-up.
William Scull: from anonymity to the world stage
Scull, nicknamed “The Untamed”, has built his career away from the spotlight, residing in Germany and fighting under the radar of the big networks. His unbeaten record may seem imposing at first glance, but it has been questioned by the quality of his opponents. Even so, the IBF title, obtained after beating Vladimir Shishkin by unanimous decision, put him directly in the sights of the Mexican champion.With a 73-inch (185 cm) reach and a difficult-to-read style, his main strength lies in defense. He avoids clean punches effectively and keeps his head out of the line of attack. However, his offense is limited: his punching power is not intimidating, and his negative style makes him unattractive to the viewer. If he is to have a real chance, he will need to show a more ambitious version than the one we saw in his last fight.
On May 3, it’s not just a belt at stake, but the immediate future of boxing in 2025. Canelo needs to win to validate his next fight against Crawford and maintain his status as the dominant super middleweight figure. Scull, on the other hand, comes in with no pressure, but with the chance to write one of the most shocking upsets of the year.
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